Audiences are expected to flock to the big-screen adaptation of Michael Morpugo’s successful children’s novel “War Horse” when it opens this week at cinemas across the country. Directed by Steven Spielberg and featuring acting stars from acrossEurope, the film has already received rave reviews from many critics.
One man who is not so impressed by multi-million dollar productions, however, is Sir Nicholas Hytner, artistic director atLondon’s National Theatre. The NT has been thrilling audiences for years with their own adaptation of the novel, and it was the success of the play that inspiredHollywoodto make their own version of the story.
Hytner believes that the theatrical version will end up making more money than the big screen adaptation, with “War Horse” already making millions of pounds for the National Theatre through tickets and merchandising.
The impresario also revealed that the NT will even make money from the Spielberg film as they have a small stake in the film. Although the theatrical rights and the film rights were sold in completely separate deals, the Oscar-winning director wanted to use aspects of the play in his film and offered the National Theatre a cut of the profits in return for their cooperation.
The play “War Horse” has been seen by more than one million people since it opened almost five years ago, and Hytner added that the NT will be putting on performances of the show until at least the start of 2013 and probably longer.
Profits generated by “War Horse” have allowed the innovative artistic director to put on less profitable shows that have been critical successes, with the NT reporting an income of over £70 million in 2010/11, half of which came from theatre tickets. Although the National Theatre lost over £2 million in funding from the Arts Council this year, Hytner insisted that amount is more than covered by the £3 million generated by “War Horse” every year.
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